After completing the first part of the course, the students will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges of sustainable development and examine the applicability of the concept to the service sector.

Identify critical global environmental and social issues, and examine their relevance for businesses in the service sector:

Critically assess corporate responses to demands for social responsibility and environmental performance;

Examine the role of policies and policy instruments in encouraging a wider adoption of corporate social responsibility and environmental practice among businesses in the service sector;

Apply theoretical models presented throughout the course to identify opportunities for improvements of the interactions between businesses and society;

Demonstrate a good understanding of the role of the EU in promoting socially and environmentally responsible business activities;

Demonstrate the ability to work in teams and publicly present results;

Demonstrate analytical skills by examining and discussing cases in the service sector.

The learning objectives to achieve after completing the second part of the course are:

To become familiar with the definitions and concepts of trade liberalization and fairness in trade, and to understand and explain the basic concepts of International and European Trade Law and Intellectual Property Law.

To understand and apply: 1. the basic international rules of contract and sale of goods, including e-commerce; 2. the general EU rules on free movement of goods, services and workers, with a focus on fundamental rights and non discrimination; 3. the general rules on legal protection of copyright and trademark law.

To identify the essential elements of a concrete legal problem, select the relevant sources of law, and present a convincing argument for the resolution of that problem.

Prerequisite

Students not enrolled in BSc in Business Administration & Service Management must document a level in English equal to TOEFL 575, and A level in mathematics equal to Danish level B

Examination

Business and Society

Marking Scale

7-step scale

Censorship

Internal examiners

Exam Period

October

• Duration of exam: 4 hours
• The written exam takes place on CBS computers
• Graphs can be written by hand
• Aids: Open book, but please note:
• Students have access to their personal files (S-drive on CBS network)
• Students do NOT have access to Internet, Site Scape/ LEARN, and other services from CBS (except their personal S-drive on CBS network)
• Students are not allowed to bring personal electronic devices to the exam, except a non-programmable calculator.
• Re-take examinations and make-up examinations are subject to the same regulations as the ones noted above

Examination

Prerequisites for Attending the Exam

Course Content

The complex interactions between businesses and society have profound implications for the progress of humanity. This course aims at providing students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills useful for analysing the dynamics and consequences of this interaction, by focusing on 1) sustainable development, a central issue for business-society interaction, and 2) legal aspects of international business activities.

Content: The first part of the course focuses on the business and societal challenges raised by current concerns for sustainable development*, by analysing: a) The evolution of the sustainable development concept and its relevance for business activities; b) Corporate responses to societal demands for corporate social responsibility and environmental business actions; c) The role of policy and policy instruments for promoting corporate social responsibility and environmental practice among businesses;

The second part of the course deals with the following legal aspects of international business activities, and focuses on fairness in business: a) International and supranational co-operation on trade between different states, based on the fundamental principles of fair marketing and fair dealing b) EU principles including non discrimination, equality and fundamental rights; c) Intellectual property rights, in particular protection of intangible rights by copyright and trademark law. Case work is mainly based on judgments and legal Acts. The legal issues studied will include: • Definitions and concepts of trade liberalization with a focus on consumer protection, and concepts of EU Law, Marketing Law and Intellectual Property Law. • Application of contract and sales rules, including fair trading in e-commerce, and of EU rules and rules on intellectual property rights • Identifying concrete legal problems and solving them. • Strategies to promote ethical standards of business behaviour and other similar subjects will be discussed

Teaching Methods

The course material is delivered through lectures and class activities. It is expected that students prepare before classes by reading relevant documents, articles and/or case studies as suggested in the reading schedule (on SiteScape).

Further Information

The course name has been changed from Business Framework in the 2008-2009 Study Regulations to Business & Society in the 2010 Study Regulations. This course description applies to students studying after the 2008-2009Study Regulations as well as students studying afterthe 2010 Study Regulations.

Literature

The course readings will be available for students in electronic format through SiteScape or the CBS library.

A collection of electronic resources for the first 15 lectures in weeks 35,36 and 37 (available on SiteScape).

Electronic materials on International Law andEU Law (available on SiteScape)

Electronic collections of selected treaty articles concerning CISG and EC Treaties, EU directives and EU judgments on Marketing, E-Commerce Law and free movement of goods and services. Case on American Copyrights (available on SiteScape)

Electronic collection of exercises and study cases for the law part (available on Sitescape).